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A world of thanks

The Kellogg School recognizes exceptional alumni and friends at the 2008-2009 Kellogg Awards

By Rachel Farrell

5/4/2009 - Alumni and friends of the Kellogg School give back to the institution in countless ways. Whether they are sharing their expertise in the classroom, mentoring students or providing networking opportunities, their efforts are fundamental to the school’s success.

Each year, the Kellogg School recognizes outstanding service to the school during the annual Kellogg Awards ceremony, hosted this year in the Grand Ballroom of Evanston’s Hotel Orrington on April 30. More than 200 Kellogg alumni and friends convened to thank those who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the school.

Organized by the Kellogg Alumni Council and Office of Alumni Relations, the event featured a cocktail hour, three-course dinner and presentation of the Shaffner Award, the school’s most prestigious alumni honor, to Grant Gund ’97 and Zachary Gund ’00 and Leland Pillsbury ’82.

Also presented were the Alumni Service Award, the Friends of the Kellogg School of Management Award, the Kellogg Alumni Club Award of Excellence, and the Kellogg Alumni Club Volunteer of the Year Award. In addition, 43 alumni and Kellogg friends were inducted into the Pete Henderson Society, which honors those who have helped make Kellogg a leader in management education.

Shaffner Award

Established in 1984, the Shaffner Award honors preeminent alumni who have provided outstanding service to the Kellogg School.

Grant Gund ’97 and Zachary Gund ’00 are managing partners at Coppermine Capital, a Waltham, Mass.-based private investment firm that acquires small and mid-sized manufacturing and service companies. Before launching the firm, Grant worked at Megunticook Management, a Boston-based venture capital firm, while Zachary worked in business development at Ucentric Systems and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC).

The brothers, who attended Kellogg at different times, have said their shared Kellogg experience provided a crucial foundation for their success. “There are so many lessons that we apply every day,” Grant has said.

“Kellogg is not just a two-year experience,” Zack added. “It's good at fostering that family feeling, especially if you meet with your professors and get to know them and talk to them. You can have an ongoing relationship with the school.”

The brothers have nurtured that relationship with a continued willingness to engage with the Kellogg School and its students, said Steven Rogers, the Gordon and Llura Gund Family Professor of Entrepreneurship.

“Grant and Zachary Gund are two of my favorite people,” Rogers said as he presented the award.

“They volunteer their time to Kellogg. Kellogg students will call them, and they spend time advising those students. They come back and serve on panels and conferences. They hire Kellogg students as interns; they hire Kellogg alums to work for their firms. They are hardworking men who are also very humble.”

Also honored with the Shaffner Award was Leland Pillsbury ’82, the founder, co-chairman and CEO of the real-estate investment firm Thayer Lodging Group; co-founder and chairman of TIG Global, an Internet marketing company; and co-founder and chairman of the marketing-representation firm EMC Venues.

Pillsbury has credited Kellogg for supplying the insights and knowledge to pursue his wide-ranging career. Since receiving an executive MBA degree in 1982, Pillsbury has recruited a number of Kellogg graduates for internships and full-time positions at his firm.

“The faculty is the lifeblood of the school here,” Pillsbury said. “Kellogg continues to set the bar for business education, and [Dean Dipak C. Jain’s] vision of moving from success to significance has moved all of us.”

Kellogg Alumni Service Award

The Kellogg Alumni Service Award recognizes graduates who have promoted Kellogg throughout the world and are dedicated to the continued progress of the Kellogg School and its community. These alumni have demonstrated their intention to maintain a lifelong friendship with Kellogg.

A former member of Spencer Stuart’s financial officer practice, Virginia Clarke ’84 spent 10 years in real-estate investment management with Jones Lang LaSalle and Prudential Real Estate Investors. She is the former president of the Kellogg Black Management Association and has been a frequent guest speaker at the Black Management Association Conference. In addition, she visits the Kellogg School on a regular basis to participate in industry and alumni events.

Roxanne Hori, assistant dean and director of the Kellogg Career Management Center, presented the award to Clarke. “Even as a soon-to-be-minted MBA student, Ginny was very impressive,” she said. “There are only a handful of people that you really remember, and Ginny is one that I remember really well. She impressed people with her intellect and style, and she continues to do that today.”

Janet Froetscher ’83 is the president and chief executive officer of the National Safety Council, a public advocacy group that helps prevent injuries in workplaces, homes and communities. From 2000-03, she was chief operating officer of the Aspen Institute; from 2003-08, she served as chief executive of the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago.

“We really want to produce graduates who can achieve this magical combination of intellectual depth and credibility and great values and ability to think beyond their own self interest,” said David Besanko, senior associate dean and the Alvin J. Huss Professor of Management & Strategy. “[Froetscher] really embodies that sweet spot. Kellogg has been the recipient of Janet’s generosity. She participates as a panelist and speaker; she mentors our students; she’s really been a patriot of the Kellogg School.”

Friends of Kellogg School of Management Award

This award honors individuals who, though not graduates of Kellogg, have loyally served Kellogg over the years. These recipients have often served as partners in conferences, student programs, executive education and/or recruiting.

W. James Farrell is the retired chairman, president and chief executive officer of Illinois Tool Works Inc., a $16-billion manufacturing company based in Glenview, Ill. After joining the company in 1965, he also served as general manager and executive vice president.

Farrell met Kellogg Dean Dipak C. Jain and Dean Emeritus Donald P. Jacobs when he joined the Northwestern University board of directors, shortly after he became the CEO of Illinois Tool Works. Jain and Jacobs later asked Farrell to join the Kellogg School’s advisory board, a stepping stone to the capital campaign steering committee.

After receiving his award, Farrell addressed the audience. “I want everyone in the room to raise their right hand,” he said. “Wave your hand back and forth. Now, with the other hand, reach in and pull out your checkbook.”

A lawyer with a juris doctor from the University of Miami, Joel Ronkin AEP-103 originally joined Elizabeth Arden as the company’s in-house legal counsel, but soon found he was interested in sales. After earning a Kellogg certificate, he was appointed executive vice president and general manager of Elizabeth Arden. In this role, he oversees the company’s U.S. department store and mass-market fragrance businesses and online businesses; its Canada and Puerto Rico businesses; and the company’s relationships with beauty manufacturers such as Estée Lauder, L’Oreal and Procter & Gamble. Ronkin partnered with Kellogg faculty to develop an Elizabeth Arden case study that is used in the Advanced Executive Program.

“Joel attended Kellogg in 2003, and was promoted to executive vice president [at Elizabeth Arden] in 2004 — there is some correlation there,” said Stephen Burnett, associate dean of executive education and professor of strategic management. “Since that time, Joel has helped us enormously in executive education at Kellogg. He has been our go-to guy.”

Alumni Club Awards

The Alumni Club Awards were established to recognize exceptional individuals and organizations in the Kellogg Alumni Network that lead and promote the growth of the Kellogg community.

The Kellogg Alumni Club Award of Excellence was presented to the Kellogg Alumni Club of Dallas-Fort Worth, a long-standing active alumni club that has helped raise the Kellogg profile in the Dallas-Fort Worth business community. Led by a 20-member alumni board, the club has focused on creating great networking opportunities, strengthening the relationship between Kellogg School and Northwestern University alumni, collaborating with the DFW Alumni Coalition and soliciting support from major Dallas-Fort Worth companies.

“We are deeply honored and humbled by this award,” said Jack Rubarth ’95, president of the club. “I’m floored by our incredibly enthusiastic and engaged board members. We have a great and enthusiastic relationship with the NU boards. We have a very energetic group.”

Kellogg Alumni Club Volunteer of the Year

The Kellogg Alumni Club Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Kevin Bourke ’05, president of the Kellogg Alumni Club of Atlanta. Bourke oversees all club responsibilities, including communications with club members, coordinating volunteers, establishing the club calendar and events schedule, setting club goals and working closely with the Office of Alumni Relations.

“I’m humbled and honored to be recognized before this group,” said Bourke. “This is just the beginning for me of my involvement in Kellogg. I am going to be a disciple for Kellogg in Atlanta.”

Inductees to the Pete Henderson Society

As a professor of management and dean of administration at Kellogg from 1971-81, Kenneth “Pete” Henderson played a key role in strengthening the school’s connection with Chicago’s business community and establishing the school’s collaborative culture. The Pete Henderson Society honors alumni and friends of the school who, in the spirit of Henderson’s generosity and dedication, have helped make Kellogg a leader in management education.